Tag Archives: SR-22

Why is auto insurance expensive? Why do some companies charge a lot more than others?

Posted on by

According to US Department of Commerce motor vehicle accident statistics, approximately 10.8 million motor vehicle accidents occurred on US roads in 2009. Considering how often car accidents occur, it is no surprise that auto insurance is a major expense for even the safest drivers. But what has always surprised me, no matter whether you are considered a good driver or higher risk driver by auto insurance companies, is some companies charge more than twice as much as other companies for the same coverage. This is why it’s so important to check the rates of many auto insurance companies, so you can find the companies that have the best rates for you. This is also why many auto insurance companies can honestly claim to save people hundreds of dollars a year. But there are not a few companies with low rates for everyone. You have to shop to find the auto insurance company with the best rates for you. It’s not unusual to find big price differences among companies for other types of insurance, too, like home and life insurance.

However, with auto insurance, I have always wondered why major companies, competing to have a good price for the best drivers, charge very different rates, when these companies use the same considerations to determine the lowest risk drivers. If you are married, in your thirties, own a home, have two late model cars, have great credit, had no claims in the last 5 years, and all the drivers in your household have clean driving records, every auto insurance company selling preferred or standard auto insurance wants your business. So why do some of these major companies charge so much more than other companies? Why would two or more households, having all the same qualities I listed, find a different group of auto insurance companies have the best rates for each household? Shouldn’t the same group of companies have the best rates for all the customers with the same characteristics? I will answer these questions in this blog post, and tell you why a part of the problem is consumer behavior, and what people can do to influence over-priced auto insurance companies to lower their rates. Continue reading →

21st Century Auto Insurance Reviews: Complaint Ratings & Customer Satisfaction Ratings

Posted on by

This blog entry is the first in my series of reviews of the leading insurance companies offering home & auto insurance in the United States, reviewing the customer service & complaint record of 21st Century auto insurance. Continue reading →

Car Insurance Claims: Company Ratings for Auto Claim Satisfaction in 2012

Posted on by

If you follow my advice, by getting price quotes from all the leading auto & home insurance companies each year, to make sure you pay reasonable rates, and get additional opinions on your coverage, you will see some companies charge more than double the amount other companies charge. This is how you can save hundreds of dollars by shopping your insurance. But some people have a reluctance to change to companies with substantially lower rates, thinking you get what you pay for. The good news is, unlike a lot of products, where you get better quality by paying more, you don’t get better service by paying more for insurance. My blog post today will discuss the JD Power 2012 US auto claims satisfaction ratings for all the major car insurance companies, and tell you what you need to know to find a company with acceptable claims satisfaction, and low rates for you. Continue reading →

What is the best car insurance company in the North Central USA? Find out here!

Posted on by

Here are my summary and conclusions about the 2012 JD Power north central region auto insurance customer satisfaction study, surveying car insurance customers insured with the major companies in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. As is the case with the other regional studies, some of the companies rated among the best, or better than most, did not score much above the study average. Also, some of the companies receiving JD Power’s lowest rating, 2 power circles (the rest), are not much below the average score for the study. My analysis will help you tell the difference between the companies truly performing well, the companies performing about average, and any companies performing poorly, based on the numerical scores from the north central study. I will also discuss strengths and weaknesses for each company, in the factors considered by the study, such as Pricing, Policy Offerings, Billing & Payment, and Contacting the Insurance Company. Continue reading →

JD Power 2012 Auto Insurance Southeast Region Study: Summary & Conclusions

Posted on by

Today, I’m writing about the JD Power 2012 auto insurance customer satisfaction study for the Southeast region of the USA, including the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, & Tennessee. More so than the other regional studies I have reviewed, I think the power circle ratings in the Southeast regional study are very misleading, with some top rated, 5 power circle (among the best) rated companies, scoring only a few points above the average score, and not many points above companies rated at 3 power circles (about average) for overall customer satisfaction. I’ll analyze the scores and ratings, and let you know my opinion why a company may be a good choice for you, and if I think the study results indicate truly better or worse customer satisfaction. Continue reading →

JD Power 2012 West Region Auto Insurance Study: Summary, Conclusions, & Shopping Tips

Posted on by

Here is my summary, conclusions, and shopping tips regarding the 2012 JD Power West Region auto insurance survey, measuring car insurance customer satisfaction in 10 Western states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Remember, each state’s automobile insurance market is unique. The top insurance companies in Washington, Wyoming, and Arizona are likely to be different companies. Any of the companies on this list, and even smaller companies not making the list, might be the company saving you hundreds of dollars on your auto insurance. If you don’t want to grossly over-pay for auto insurance coverage, decide on the coverage you need, and get quotes for the same coverage from all the companies on this list, to find the companies with good service and competitive rates. Continue reading →

JD Power 2012 US Auto Insurance Study: Summary, Conclusions, & Shopping Tips

Posted on by

Before I write my summary of my analysis of the results for the JD Power 2012 California region auto insurance study, let me explain how to use the summaries I’m writing for the seven regional studies, making up the JD Power 2012 US auto insurance company customer satisfaction study, so you can find the auto insurance company with the best combination of coverage, service, & price for you.

I don’t think many auto insurance buyers choose a company on service alone, without consideration of price. So, I will list the companies rated by JD Power for each regional survey summary, from best to worst, discuss their strengths & weaknesses, and tell you which type of customers should get a quote from them. Continue reading →

JD Power 2012 California Region Auto Insurance Study: Companies Rated Below Average

Posted on by

This blog post finishes my review of the car insurance companies rated by the JD Power 2012 California region auto insurance study. Was your auto insurance company rated less than “about average” for customer satisfaction? Was it classified with the lowest rating of 2 power circles? JD Power diplomatically refers to companies with the 2 power circle rating as “the rest.” The good news is some of the companies scoring below the California regional average score are not far below the average. I will review the company scores, and the factors leading to the scores, such as Billing & Payment or Pricing, and let you know if you should be looking for a better company. Some of these companies you may want to avoid, but some of them may meet your insurance needs at a great price. I’ll give you the information behind the power circle rating for each of the companies below the California average, to help you make better decisions when choosing an auto insurance company. Continue reading →

JD Power 2012 California Region Auto Insurance Study: Companies Rated Better Than Most

Posted on by

My last blog post told you about the two highest rated companies for customer satisfaction in the JD Power 2012 California region auto insurance study. The top company was USAA, but it restricts eligibility for its insurance to the military. The only other company in the California survey to receive a 5 power circle rating, was Wawanesa, and its score was not much higher than the companies rated 4 power circles.

Now, I examine the numbers and considerations behind the companies rated 4 power circles (Better than most), to let you know my thoughts about what the JD Power survey results really say about these companies. Continue reading →

JD Power 2012 California Region Auto Insurance Study: Companies Rated Among the Best

Posted on by

Which auto insurance companies in California received the best rating — 5 power circles (Among the best) — for customer satisfaction by JD Power in 2012? I’ll tell you not only the companies with the top ratings, but how I think you should consider each company’s rating, and how it compares with other leading companies. I’ll help you avoid the mistake of paying too much for car insurance, because of the possibly false expectation of excellent customer service. If you look at the JD Power number scores behind the power circle ratings, you will find some companies rated among the best may not be really much better than other companies. Continue reading →

Choosing an insurance agent: Questions to ask before you buy

Posted on by

Most people do not know the important questions to ask, or what to look for in the replies of an insurance agent, to know if an agent is deserving of your business. This blog post will give you tips on what questions to ask, and how to ask them. so you are able to see through empty claims of great customer service & expertise.

If you have visited the “about us” section of almost any insurance agency web site, you read the same things: Our customers are the focus of our business. We are committed to personal service. We work hard to get you the coverage you need at a low price, etc. The truth is anybody can claim to provide a high level or personal customer service, and just about everyone claims to provide it. Continue reading →

Choosing an insurance agent: What to expect from a good agent

Posted on by

I started this blog series about how to choose an agent, telling you about the hype you hear from every agent, usually in a confident, friendly manner: “I have many years experience. I represent a large, old, financially stable company with 24 hour claims service. I’m an independent agent, and I can shop the home & auto insurance market for you (except I don’t tell you I don’t represent some of the biggest & best companies). I put my customers first. Yadda, yadda, yadda.”

There are lots of well-established, financially strong insurance companies. Most companies have 24 hour claims reporting. Almost all of the reasons agents tell you why you should insure with them are not unique, and they are common among all insurance companies. If other companies offer the same benefits, why shouldn’t you choose the company with the lowest price?

Some agents do add value with the service they provide, and this blog post will show you how to recognize this value, and allow you to tell the agents really putting their customers first, from the majority of agents merely claiming to put their customers first. Continue reading →

Choosing an insurance agent: Your agent’s office location

Posted on by

How important is it for your agent’s office to be close to your home or work? For a lot of people, this is an important factor for choosing an agent. But for most people, choosing an agent based on the agent’s office location can be a mistake. Depending on your needs, the location of your agent’s office may not be important at all. This blog post will tell you when having an agent close to you is important, and when choosing the agent closest to you is a mistake. Continue reading →

Choosing an insurance agent: Referrals

Posted on by

One thing recommended to insurance shoppers, often by objective sources like your state’s department of insurance informational brochures, is to ask your friends, family, & neighbors for their opinions about insurance companies. In my opinion, personal referrals are not useful in making sure you will get good customer service from your agent or insurance company. This blog post will explain why referrals are not reliable, and where to find more objective measures of customer service, so you can avoid having problems when you most need the help of your agent or company. Continue reading →

Choosing an insurance agent: Check for license & complaints

Posted on by

Whether you buy your insurance from an agent, or directly from the company, you need to make sure your agent or company is properly licensed in your state to sell the type of insurance you are buying, and see if there has been any complaints or disciplinary actions against your agent or company. Continue reading →

Choosing an insurance agent: How much experience is needed?

Posted on by

Here is my second tip for choosing an insurance agent, which can save you from making costly mistakes:

Know how much experience is important, & avoid inexperienced agents

Some agents try to convince you to insure with them based on their many years of experience, or the experience of their employees. I know one agent added up the total number of years of experience of their agency employees to conclude their combined experience equals over 100 hundred years! This sounds impressive, but does it really benefit the customer? I don’t think so. Continue reading →

Choosing an insurance agent: Is your agent any good?

Posted on by

Do you have a good insurance agent? Most people find out the hard way when they have a problem or a claim. This is the first in a series of blog posts giving you tips on how to find an excellent agent and avoid bad ones. The first thing you may think, is you can avoid having to worry about finding a good agent by not having an agent at all, and buying direct from the insurance company. Doesn’t it cost more to have an insurance agent? Isn’t it cheaper to buy direct, anyway? Continue reading →

District of Columbia (DC) Auto Insurance Reviews: Complaint Ratings for Major Companies

Posted on by

Does your Washington DC automobile insurance company have a huge amount of customer complaints? Will you have any problems placing a claim, or have a valid claim delayed or denied? Is your insurance company good or bad? Most consumers fail to check the complaint records of their auto insurance company. This blog post provides complaint information for sixteen major insurance companies selling auto insurance in Washington DC, and ranks them from best to worst, based on their 2011 JD Power auto insurance customer satisfaction rating. National auto insurance complaint ratings for their subsidiary companies are available through links to my insurance company reviews on my website. Continue reading →

Wyoming Auto & Home Insurance Reviews: Complaint Ratings for Major Companies

Posted on by

Does your insurance company have a lot of complaints? Will you have difficulty placing a claim, or have a valid claim delayed or denied? How do you know if your company is good or bad? Most consumers fail to check the complaint records of their automobile & property (homeowners, renters, mobile home, rental dwelling, condo, etc.) insurance companies. Here I provide complaint information for insurance companies selling auto & residential property insurance in Wyoming and rank them, from best to worst, based on their 2009, 2010, & 2011 Wyoming complaint record. Continue reading →

Wisconsin Auto Insurance Reviews: Complaint Ratings for Leading Companies

Posted on by

Does your automobile insurance company have a lot of complaints? Will you have difficulty placing a claim, or have a valid claim delayed or denied? How do you know if your company is any good? Most consumers fail to check the complaint records of their insurance companies. Here I provide complaint information for 20 of the largest (by market share in Wisconsin, based on auto insurance premium) insurance companies and rank them, from best to worst, based on their 2010 national auto insurance complaints. (Accurate 2011 data not available yet). I also list 22 insurance companies you may want to avoid, with a higher than average number of auto insurance complaints filed against them in Wisconsin. Continue reading →

West Virginia Auto Insurance Reviews: Complaint Ratings for 20 Top Companies

Posted on by

Does your auto insurance company have a large amount of customer complaints? Will you have problems placing a claim, or have a valid claim delayed or denied? Is your insurance company really any good? Most consumers fail to check the complaint records of their auto & home insurance companies. This blog post provides complaint information for the 20 largest insurance companies insuring cars in West Virginia, & rates them based on their 2010 national complaint record (Accurate 2011 complaint records are not available yet). Know the best and worst companies! Continue reading →

Virginia Auto Insurance Reviews: Complaint Ratings for 50 Top Companies

Posted on by

Does your car insurance company have many customer complaints? Will you have problems placing a claim, or have a valid claim delayed or denied? Is your insurance company good or bad? Most consumers fail to check the complaint records of their automobile insurance companies. This blog post provides complaint information for the 50 largest insurance companies insuring private passenger autos in Virginia and ranks them from best to worst, based on their 2010 national auto insurance complaint record (Accurate 2011 complaint records are not available yet). Continue reading →

Vermont Auto Insurance Reviews: Complaint Ratings for Leading Companies

Posted on by

Does your automobile insurance company have a huge amount of customer complaints? Will you have any problems placing a claim, or have a valid claim delayed or denied? Is your insurance company good or bad? Most consumers fail to check the complaint records of their insurance companies. This blog post provides complaint information for the major insurance companies selling auto insurance in Vermont, and ranks them from best to worst, based on their 2011 JD Power auto insurance customer satisfaction rating. National auto insurance complaint ratings for their subsidiary companies are available by links to insurance company reviews on my website. I also list complaint ratings for several large regional auto insurance companies selling car insurance in Vermont, not rated by JD Power. Continue reading →

Utah Auto Insurance Reviews: Complaint Ratings for 20 Top Companies

Posted on by

Does your car insurance company have many complaints? Will you have difficulty placing a claim, or have a valid claim delayed or denied? How do you know if your company is good or bad? Most consumers fail to check the complaint records of their insurance companies. Here I provide complaint information for the twenty largest (by market share in Utah, based on premium) auto insurance companies & rank them, from best to worst, based on the average of each company’s Utah auto insurance complaint record for the last three years — 2008, 2009, & 2010. Utah complaint data for 2011 is not available yet. Continue reading →

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Rates Increase!

Posted on by

The Massachusetts car insurance market has changed a lot over the last several years. Only four years ago, the state set auto insurance rates and coverage options (under its old fix-and-establish system) and there was no price competition among auto insurance companies.

In 2008, the law changed to allow price competition based on rating factors permitted by the state. Many new auto insurance companies started selling auto insurance in Massachusetts, and rates dropped so insurance companies could gain customers and market share. In addition, insurance companies started offering different coverage options to attract customers.

Now, the cost of claims & the desire to make a profit are increasing car insurance rates for many companies. Auto insurance buyers living in the state of Massachusetts need to know it’s now very important to shop your auto insurance each year, to make sure you are not paying excessive rates, and to choose the coverage options best for you.

This blog post will show you the companies selling auto insurance in Massachusetts, and the information needed to help you decide on the best car insurance company for you. Continue reading →